Katie

Creating differentiation for the Nicholas James Group by sailing in Devon.

Devon Sailing Experiences recently met up with friends from the Salcombe Harbour Hotel & Spa (part of the Nicholas James Group Ltd) to give them the opportunity to take in the views of their stunning hotel from the water, and to enable them to create video and photography assets for the hotel. As part of the partnership, we have teamed-up with the hotel to enable them to create sailing packages add-ons to their product portfolio. Giving their guests the chance to sail in Devon is a unique and rewarding experience for their customers.

Utilising one of our new yachts, ‘Bewitched’ (our luxury 41’ sailing yacht), is perfect for a group of friends marking a special occasion, a romantic trip or an educational adventure. Sailing in Devon is a fantastic experience for anyone, but combining it with a luxury hotel break takes it to another level. Setting off down the estuary, with the wind in your sails, your skipper will effortlessly guide the vessel past the hotel and the stunning backdrops.

Salcombe Harbour Hotel and Spa suggest making a few days of it (see http://www.salcombe-harbour-hotel.co.uk/news/devon-sailing-experiences/ ) where Devon Sailing Experiences will collect you from Plymouth, sailing you over to Salcombe Harbour Hotel & Spa for an overnight stay and use of its luxury facilities. You may choose to book a sail back to Plymouth, or be taken back to Plymouth by Range Rover in time to catch your train home.

We are looking forward to offering this exhilarating and breath-taking experience to other hotel groups in the area. With the dramatic scenery and fresh sea air, you can understand why people fall so in love with sailing in Devon.

A fine spell of weather in October coincided with our first Hen Party Sailing Weekend – and what an experience that was!

Wearing a blindfold (which we were told she had worn since leaving her home 2 hours prior to her arrival at King Point Marina in Plymouth), our hen was led along the pontoon to our 40’ yacht, Bewitched. After removing her blindfold and shoes (sorry, ladies – no heels on board!), she helped the rest of her crew load up the yacht with Prosecco and…. well, not much else, really! What else do you need on a hen party sailing weekend?

After setting sail under the guidance of their experienced skipper (brave man!), a few rounds of games (Cards Against Humanity – look it up, by all means, but please don’t hold us responsible if it causes offence), gangsta rap boat songs and the obligatory photo shoot at the helm, the party dropped the anchor for lunch. October can sometimes be a little cold for sailing, but the sun shone and the ladies were well prepared with their layers of clothing. Besides, the freshly prepared home made chilli-con-carne with rice and sour cream washed down with more Prosecco helped warm everyone up.

Upon returning to land, the sailing hen party hit the first-class shower facilities that can be found at King Point Marina, then they were ready for their evening at The Dock, the fabulous restaurant that overlooks the marina. They didn’t have far to stagger home – staying onboard a cosy, heated yacht 6-berth yacht that they could see from the restaurant window just finished off their celebrations perfectly.

Spellbound, our Jeanneau 36i, hosted the Meet me on the Boat project, which took place 13^th – 16^th September in the sheltered waters of Torbay.

Encounters Arts arranged to charter a yacht and skipper from Brixham for a few days (and an evening) and invited a number of artists along to sing sea-shanties, tell stories, and create artefacts. The outcomes of this exciting and unusual project will be exhibited at Living Coasts, Torquay on Saturday 26^th September.

The work demonstrated by the artists whilst underway goes a long way to show that sailing in September can offer a wonderful experience. You can see that their photographs show clear blue skies, and as the nights begin to draw in early, you can see how it is possible to sit back and watch the small coastal towns light up beautifully.

We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for birthdays. We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for anniversaries. We have had requests to charter a yacht and skipper for stag or hen parties. Never before have we had a request to charter a yacht for a group of working artists.

Would we take part in such an exciting project again? Oh, yes. Definitely!

Sailing vouchers can now be purchased from the Red Letter Days sailing website.

Red Letter Days is a well-known internet-based company that sells “experiences” from the adrenaline fuelled to the relaxed. Booking a sail with Red Letter Days couldn’t be easier – this link will take you directly to the site: (https://www.redletterdays.co.uk/experience/ref/dseso/a-sailing-weekend-for-two)

And what a fabulous weekend we spent with our latest guests who purchased sailing vouchers through Red Letter Days. The photo says it all. The sky was blue, the early September sunshine warmed the air, and our guests (both groups from different parts of the country) gelled well. Sailing vouchers for special occasions can be booked directly through our website or through Red Letter Days.

“What can I give to the person who has everything?”

Well, it seems that some of our customers has solved that age-old problem for themselves. An increasing number of our guests have found sailing gift vouchers for birthdays and sailing gift vouchers for anniversaries make the perfect present.

And we have sailing gift voucher options to suit all budgets.

Martin was stuck for a birthday present for his younger brother, Shaun. Being an active kind of guy, Shaun had tried most things, but sailing was not one of them. Our day sail options (http://www.devonsailingexperiences.co.uk/sailing-vouchers-and-short-packages/) allow people to get as much hands-on experience as they are comfortable with, so this turned out to be an ideal birthday gift him.

A couple of our other guests, June and Robert, were the first to admit that they are no longer as active as they used to be. However, when June saw the day sail package for 2 could be as active or as relaxing as they liked, she thought it was the ideal special anniversary gift for her husband. She loved the freshly prepared lunch at anchor at Cawsands (which she washed down with a glass of wine) while her husband happily fished off the back of the boat.

Tony was also looking for a special anniversary gift. His wife, Sandy, had hinted at a romantic night away – he wanted an affordable night away. A gift voucher for one of our weekend sail packages (http://www.devonsailingexperiences.co.uk/sail-dartmouth-salcombe/ ) was the solution for both Sandy and Tony. What can be more romantic than spending two nights on a 40’ yacht and admiring the beautiful coastline that Devon offers?

In our opinion, sailing gift vouchers for birthdays and sailing gift vouchers for anniversaries make the perfect gift for the person who is impossible to buy for. With sailing gift vouchers available directly through us or through the Red Letter Days website, buying a special present for a loved one couldn’t be easier.

“I like the idea of it, but have never tried sailing before and I’m not sure how to get into it.”

If this applies to you or someone you know, Devon Sailing Experiences has the perfect opportunity for you.

Roy, who was new to sailing and is now one of our regular guests, first booked a day sail from Plymouth with exactly that thought in mind. He explained that he liked the way that a day sail from Plymouth with Devon Sailing Experiences meant that he could take part in as much (or as little) sailing as he liked. His experienced skipper took full responsibility for the safety of the yacht, while encouraging his enthusiasm to learn how to hoist a sail, take the helm, tack and jibe. That was it for him – from never trying sailing before he was immediately hooked and now regularly checks our sailing schedule (and requests his own dates) to come out with us.

Whilst taking a break in the South Hams, Katherine saw a day sail from Salcombe advertised and brought her 8-year-old daughter along. Both of them were new to sailing and had never tried sailing before. It was ideal for them; their skippered yacht charter enabled then to be picked up from Salcombe first thing in the morning and they returned to exactly the same spot after a fun-filled day on the water (with a lunch stop at a local anchorage). They shared some great action-packed photos with their friends on Facebook.

Day sails are not the only option for those new to sailing. A weekend skippered charter from Plymouth or Salcombe means that our guests have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a sailing experience. Louise and Malcolm booked a skippered weekend charter from Plymouth. They commented on how amazed they were with the level of comfort (Egyptian cotton bedding and towels, on-board heating, entertainment system) and the quality of the yacht (a new 2015 Jeanneau 409).

And you don’t need to invest in any specialist gear to try out sailing. We just ask our guests to bring non-marking footwear (everyday trainers will do), warm and waterproof clothing (everyday clothing for living in the UK)

If you (or someone you know) like the idea of sailing but have never tried it before, why not purchase a voucher for a skippered yacht charter from Plymouth or Salcombe? We have something for everyone. Vouchers are available from the Devon Sailing Experiences website, or they are now available on the Red Letter Days website.

Can you combine a relaxing break with a sailing holiday?

Yes, you can.

As much as I love being on the water, personally, after 6 hours of hoisting sails and grinding winches, I am ready for a relaxing shower, putting on a pair of heels and heading off into town for a drink and some good quality food. Thinking that I can’t be the only woman in the world to think this way, Devon Sailing decided to team up with Salcombe Harbour Hotel to offer luxury sailing alongside a luxury spa break.

Obviously, we had to test the package idea, so this is what we did.

We took one of the charter yachts from Plymouth and spent an action packed day on the water. One of the advantages of yacht charter from Plymouth is that King Point marina is easily accessible from the mainline railway station meaning we could leave the car at home. Plymouth also has the advantage of being within easy reach of such beautiful destinations. In this case, Salcombe was our final destination.

After mooring up alongside the beautiful and historic town centre, we took a short stroll to the luxurious Salcombe Harbour Hotel which boasts stunning views over the estuary. Obviously, I had to indulge in a spa treatment: a back, neck and shoulder massage (I didn’t have time for a facial), then we prepared for a stylish evening out. As fabulous as it normally is to stay on our brand new charter yacht overnight, the advantage of staying at the Salcombe Harbour Hotel meant I could use my hair straighters. Don’t laugh – this is a very important issue to me, personally.

After a cheeky gin and tonic in the Terrace Bar with river views, we made our way to the hotel’s stylish, new restaurant, The Jetty, for locally sourced, seasonal food. After rewarding ourselves with a high quality dinner following our adventure sail from Plymouth, we returned to our luxury room, simply slid open the wide glass doors, breathed in the fresh sea air and enjoyed the unrivalled views. I know it was early – but we had been out on the water all day, and it was supposed to be a relaxing break, after all!



After finding herself single following a split from her long-term partner, Lisa (not her real name) approached the holiday season with dread. She was on her own. Where was she going to go? What was she going to do?

She chose to take to the water with a yacht charter in Devon – and why not?

An adventure sail along the South West coast is a fantastic opportunity for the single traveller, regardless of whether or not they have had previous sailing experience. With a skippered yacht charter on our Jeanneau 409, you can choose how much (or how little) you participate in the sport, whilst visiting beautiful locations along the South Devon coastline. Check out the photos on our website.

An exclusive skippered charter of the yacht guarantees you your own private use of the boat – just you (perhaps your friends) and the skipper onboard. The advantages to this are plenty of space, a choice of cabins and absolute control of the destinations (bar the tide and weather getting in the way). If possible, the skipper will leave the boat in the evenings giving you peace and quiet or time to explore your destination.

A standard skippered yacht charter (or adventure sail) means that others (often those choosing to travel without partners or family) will join you. You will still have your own cabin (one of which is en-suite) but will you’ll be with others making up a small group. Advantages of travelling this way include reduced prices, a good atmosphere and new found friends to go for a drink in the local bar.

An active holiday in the beautiful surroundings of Devon on board a 40’ yacht – there are so many opportunities for people holidaying or travelling alone.

What on earth should I do with my 2 teenagers during the school holidays?

A cry we’ve heard more than once! You want to get them into the great outdoors – they want to play computer games. You want adventure – they want..…oh, hang on a minute, they want adventure, too!

Why not take to the water with a yacht charter in Devon? That’s exactly what one family from Bristol decided to do.

Upon arrival at King Point marina, Devon, the matriarch of the family was immediately impressed with the presentation of our spacious, brand new 40’ yacht. She commented on how immaculately clean and well laid out it was with 3 separate cabins, and she was absolutely over the moon with the fact it had an en-suite bathroom!

The trip organizer (aka, Dad) was impressed by the size and sleekness of the yacht. He was going to be in control of this beautiful Jeanneau 40’ yacht (with the support of a qualified skipper who would “do all the detail’ such as make sure everyone was safe and get them to the next location on their itinerary, but would leave them alone on the boat during the evenings).

And the 2 teenage sons? They didn’t have to share a room, so that was a good start. There were gadgets on board. Gadgets! What more does a boy need? They were not going to spend the whole holiday in one boring location – they were going to sail from port to port along the South Devon coast. They were going to sail their very own yacht.

Everyone’s a winner!